Care UK has pulled out of a contract to provide NHS 111 and out of hours services across several clinical commissioning group areas six weeks after it was awarded, putting the intended launch date of the service at risk.

Clinical commissioning group mergers must create footprints that help deliver sustainability and transformation plans, and which are “future proofed” for the emergence of accountable care providers, under new NHS England guidance.

A new commissioning executive is to be formed to overcome the “significant challenge” of commissioning across a sustainability and transformation plan footprint in the East of England, and will take powers from seven clinical commissioning groups.